The Ranger, Oct. 3, 2016

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.org

the

ranger Serving San Antonio College and the Alamo Colleges

An independent forum of free voices

Volume 91 Issue 4 • Oct. 3, 2016

210-486-1773 • Single copies free

Rho Sigma Gamma, mortuary science club, rises from the dead

$1,400

Outreach department offers volunteer opportunities

$1,200 $1,000

By Wally Perez

gperez239@student.alamo.edu

Students at the Alamo Colleges can take classes at Dallas County Community College District and Houston Community College District for far less than the cost here. Out-of-district rates for three credit hours, under the recently approved tuition schedule at the Alamo Colleges, have students paying $1,184. For three credit hours at the other colleges, students pay $333 in Dallas, $424.50 in Houston and $1,089 at Austin Community College. Unlike the Dallas and Houston districts, Austin does increase in cost as students take more classes when out-of-district. Fifteen credit hours at ACC is $5,445, while 15 hours at the Alamo Colleges is $2,477. This means students can actually save money taking classes outside of this city and the Alamo Colleges in Dallas and Houston. In-district tuition costs for three cred-

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online now

Alamo Colleges pricier than counterparts In-district tuition higher than Austin, Dallas and Houston community colleges.

Event encourages sidewalk messages for free speech

Professor receives ACCT award

3 Credit hours

$800

6 Credit Hours

$600

Lockers cannot be used for overnight storage

9 Credit Hours

$400

12 Credit Hours

$200

15 Credit Hours

$0

Alamo Alamo Austin Dallas Houston Colleges Colleges Community County Community (Current) (Proposed) College Community College College District Infographic by Zachary-Taylor Wright

it hours at the Alamo Colleges is almost three times as expensive as Dallas County Community College District and more than twice the amount of the Houston Community College District. Current tuition at the Alamo Colleges is $504 for up to six credit hours, $691 for nine credit hours, $873 for 12 credit hours and $1,054 for 15 credit hours. A new tuition increase was proposed

recently in which students would pay more, but receive three to six credit hours in the summer for free if they met the criteria. The proposed increase was tabled after trustees decided student input was needed before moving forward. Under the proposed increase, students would pay $258 for three credit hours, $516 for six credit hours, $774 for nine credit

See PRICIER, Page 3

Relax EMT sophomore Melanie Godwin checks notifications while lounging in a hammock during the Antojitos festival Sept. 28 in the mall. The ham-

Faculty Senate president steps down Lisa Black becomes faculty fellow for decision-making model. By Kyle R. Cotton kcotton11@student.alamo.edu Faculty Senate President Lisa Black stepped down from her position Sept. 23 during Faculty Senate’s first meeting of the semester. Black, who was first elected president in spring 2015, will become the faculty fellow for the new faculty decision-making model, at least until another can be found. “I’ve accepted the faculty fellow position, but sort of on a conditional basis. It’s meant to be a two-year position and it’s meant for that faculty fellow to be the liaison to the Executive Faculty Council, which is really a new ability on how we’re going to have a lot of input into how decisions are made that affect faculty across the district,” Black said. Black was the co-lead with Dr. Mike Flores, president of Palo Alto College, in designing the decision-making model. “Because it’s a brand-new model, it’s going to take a lot of work to get it moving. It’s grunt work. It’s what form we should use? What questions we should ask? How do we communicate that out to faculty? All those things that’s just basic infrastructure has to be put into place so that we can honor the transparency that we were asked to do, to give to the faculty when the model was created,” Black said.

See SENATE, Page 3

mocks provided by this college’s Hammock Club are available during normal school hours. Read the story at www.theranger.org. Brandon A. Edwards

Judge rules Follins can’t claim damages By Kyle R. Cotton kcotton11@student.alamo.edu A former president of Northeast Lakeview College cannot sue Alamo Colleges for damages related to the potential release of documents concerning his dismissal, a Travis County judge ruled Sept. 14. A Travis County district judge ruled in favor of Alamo Colleges’ motion for summary judgment denying a claim for $1 million in damages brought by Craig Follins concerning the potential release of information on his termination. Former NLC president has 30 days to appeal. The judge also approved a summary judgment motion from Attorney General Ken Paxton in a lawsuit on whether information under the Texas Public Information Act can be released to The Ranger and the San Antonio Express-News. Summary judgment means the facts in the case are not in dispute.

“As a political subdivision of the State of Texas, Alamo (Colleges) may not be sued for money damages absent an express waiver of immunity by the Texas Legislature, for which there is none in this case,” Alamo Colleges argues. “... while the TPIA provides for the recovery of attorney’s fee under some circumstances, it does not allow a third-party seeking to maintain the confidentiality of his records to recover fees from the custodial governmental entity, particularly when that entity that has complied with the TPIA by requesting a determination from (the office of the attorney general).” Alamo Colleges followed procedures in the Public Information Act by seeking the attorney general’s opinion on whether information on Follins’ termination could be released. According to Follins’ appeal

against the Alamo Colleges’ motion, Follins’ plea for damages of more than $1 million was done as a precaution. “Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 47 requires that a plaintiff plead damages in certain categories contained in the rule. “Should the injunctions prayed for not be granted, it is entirely realistic to project that Dr. Follins’ economic injury could exceed $1 million,” Follins’ attorney Stephen Menn wrote in the lawsuit. Menn also wrote that any case against the Alamo Colleges would more likely be pursued under 42 U.S. Code Section 1983, which would be prosecuted at the U.S. district court level. Follins is alleged to have engaged in abusive behavior toward faculty and staff at Northeast Lakeview before he was terminated as president Oct. 29, according to Follins’ affidavit to the court.

Roxella Cavazos, associate genthe submitted information at issue eral counsel for Alamo Colleges, is highly intimate or embarrassing said Follins has 30 days to appeal information and of no legitimate once the final paperwork is filed in public interest, and it may not be the case. withheld,” the attorney general’s Menn told The Ranger Sept. 26 decision said. he doesn’t know whether Follins Follins was reassigned as special will appeal the judge’s ruling and projects administrator — a posidoesn’t want to give his opinion on tion that did not exist previously the judge’s ruling yet. — and kept his salary The Ranger filed a of $205,387.03 to “anaView public information act lyze and provide recthe legal request Nov. 18 after documents at ommendations on the Follins was removed theranger.org. market opportunities from his position as for distance learning.” Northeast Lakeview Follins resigned president via a termination memfrom that position in August orandum written by Chancellor to pursue a position at Houston Bruce Leslie. Community College, which pulled “You have once again violatthe offer after further investigation ed expectations set for you and by the HCC district into allegations engaged in a pattern of unacceptof alleged abusive behavior. able behavior,” Leslie wrote. By resigning, Follins has forThe attorney general ruled in gone the approximately $90,000 The Ranger’s favor Feb. 24. as part of a settlement agreement, “Upon review, we find none of according to Follins’ affidavit.


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